Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-04-01
which stalked about the premises lik.

oOibe
The apple.trees in the orchard were
three quarters dead, and leaned sor-
rowfully a~.y from the last winds,
until their boughs touched the very
ground; the fences were all gone to
ruin, and the front gate was tied up
with hemp string.
"ls this home?' .aid Elma, with an
iAdescribable intonation in her voice.
We'll get things all Strengthened
up, after awhile said Mr.. Chesney,
bustling to drive away the pigs, who
had broken out Of their pen aud were
squesling dismally under the window.
Mrs. Chesney cried herself to sleep
that night, and awakened the next
morning with every bone instinct with
shooting pains.
And no wonder" said Spencer.
"There'sa foot of water in the cellar" "
"Wem have it drained, said Mr..
Chesney, with an uneasy look; but
there's plenty OF things to do first "
And now began reign Of the strict.
est economy. Mr.. Chesney himself
paid for everything with checks, and
not an article came into the house or
came out of it without his cognizance.
New dresses were frowned upon
spring bonnets were strictly interdict-
ed; orders were issued that old car
pets should be reserved, and broken
dishes repaired with cement and
quicklime.
Save, save, save. That is the
chief thing" he kept repeating, brisk
ly. Women folks cant earn; they
should try their best to save"
"lt's all very well for papa" growl-
ed Will. He eoes TO the city every
day and sees something besides the
pigs and the dead appletree.. He
orders q new suit when he needs it.
Look st mamma's patched gown and
Rosis's dyed bonnetstrings. Why,
they can't even go to church, they are
such objects? lie gets his lunch ut =
restaurant, and we eat cold beans, and
drink dsndelion coffee sud sage tea"
"Boys." hu,terei Rosie. i've an idea.
Mary Penn, ~ho lives on the next
farm. you know, csme TO see Elma and
me yesterday. Papa 10 earning his
living; we'll earn something. too"
II should like TO know how" NUT
tered Spencer. Il might hire ou,
soa ew here ~ farm hand, if it wssn'i
for that wretched old hor.e, aud the
pigs. and the wood chopping. and
"0h, but there is something that
won't interfere ~ith the chores, MOI
with school - said cheerful little Ro.
sic. just lis.en-sll | ask Of you i.
to listen
| And the vs~ks grew into mon,hs
and the red leases sddisd dovu in liz
lie swirIs from the a. pc lTsEs, ~.
"pig killing time" came, and. with the
aid Of lame, one eyed man, Mr.. Ches
ney laid down his own stock of pork
and sausages for the winter with the
sense Of being triumphantly economi
cal.
The family had lef, of complaining
uow. Apparently they were resigned
TO their doom. But there MAS some
things that Mr.. Cheney could not ex
plain at all.
A new rug frightened up the dismal
hues OF the parlor carpet; Rosie had q
crimson merino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars; EIns's full jacket
was edged With SUBSTANTIAL black fur
Snd-grsnd climax of eItravagance- -
NJ, I'haanav hAI ahaxl ~
place Of the old broche garment which
lad been her mothers before her.
He / oked over the housekeepin,
books with renewed vigilance he con
suited the stubs OF his check boob
with = glance ths, nothing could es
cape.
..l-don t-know how-thev man
ace it.. said he, scratching his nos'
with the !.sd pencil that he alSa
carried. Il hate mysteries, aud
mean to be at the bottom Of this be
fore I'm an hour older"
/ He took his acc 'unt book under hi
arm and marched into the L ktchen
where his wifi WAS cIraring away tn,
late supper.
Abigail" said ha, "how is this?
have given vou no money. How ha,,
you manage d to smartrn Yourself an,
the children up so: won't be cheat
ed BY my own wife
Elma set down the pitcher which
she VAS wiping, and came and stoct
before her father with glittsring ey
md cheeks stained with crimson, Ink,
u flag of battle.
Papa" she said, "you must n"
speak to mamma so. Ma ",na w"ul,
not cheat you nor any body else. III
money that We have earned ourselves
There. Now
Mr.. Gu. sney stared at the girl will
incredulous eyes.
Aid if You don't b-liese it, conn
aud SEE how" said E.ma, flngin,
} down her towel. May Penn showed
US. She told US everything, and CAV,
us the firstarm of bees. There .r
fourteen zsv-s down under the south
wall. Spencer sold the honey for US
: aud We planted all the nice iow"r
that grow down in the meadow, tha
you .aid WAS too stony and barrel
even for the sheep to pasture upon
and Will dug aud hved around theu
.fter the chores were all done, AMI W.
sent boxes and bouquets of lilies ane
! verbenas to the city every day by Mr.
Penn's wagon. Aud We gathered wil'
straw berries before the sun was up
and got cherries out Of the old Ian.
: and the money is all ours-every Cen
Of i'll"
Honey, eh?" said Mr.. Chesnsy
3 staring at the row of hives, for Elm
had dragged him out into the Novem
Der moonlight to the scene Of action